Central Download

Birchbox June 2014 Review

Birchbox June 2014 Review

When Im at work, I like to have a plan for dinner. I spend part of my day at work getting psyched up for the delicious food Im going to eat when I get home. Daydreaming about miscellaneous food doesnt work for me, because I will get fixated on something random and Ill be disappointed when dinner rolls around and were not having pasta/curry/waffles/whatever Ive talked myself into craving.

Its the same with Birchboxes. As soon as my box goes up for the month, I check out what Im getting and start to get excited. Thats why its been so frustrating that Birchbox has switched products on me at the last second for the past couple months!

Heres what I actually got (despite what the Birchbox website led me to believe):


Antica Farmacista Body Wash in Bergamot and Ocean Air (estimated 1 fl oz), estimated retail value $2.50


The lemon-y scent of this body wash is like a high class version of the lemon wipes I use to disinfect my kitchen countertops.

Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser (0.7 fl oz), approximate retail value $4.48


This is a bland cleanser by a brand that I have previously received a bland blemish serum from. I actually thought I had gotten a repeat product before I looked closer. Ive already mentioned that I dont like their weird, science-free "patent pending" complex because they dont provide sufficient information to show that it does anything and that I dont like the fact that they dont include the percentage of salicylic acid in the product. This cleanser also touts some alleged antioxidant effects of lycopene, but there simply isnt data showing any topical benefit.

The cleanser feels exactly like every other cleanser on the planet.

The Aloe Source Vitamin C Antioxidant Creme (0.25 fl oz), approximate retail value $10


Given that this is called a Vitamin C cream, the ingredients list for this product is surprisingly lacking in Vitamin C. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate shows up, but its pretty far down on the list. The ingredients have their fair share of "weird", though. DNA and RNA are both listed. What? Whose DNA? This is such a strange addition to the list that I wish I had more information to offer, if only for sheer what-the-fuckery.

The cream itself is pretty stinky, with the odor of an orange-colored Gatorade.

Phyto Phytolisse Ultra-Glossing Finishing Serum (0.16 fl oz), approximate retail value $2.82


I dont have particularly frizzy hair, so I cant give a very good review of this. It did not set my hair on fire when I used it. Frizz control efficacy unknown.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Valentine (0.079 oz), approximate retail value $9.29


Everything else in my box was pretty "meh", but I was definitely excited about this product. The Cynthia Rowley Beauty Line is exclusive to Birchbox. Although I am not an owner of any Cynthia Rowley clothing, I am a hoarder of the Cynthia Rowley Bandaids, which is almost the same thing. I strongly believe that she is good at making pretty things, and polka dot packaging on this lip stain only proves my point.

Despite the name, this product doesnt qualify as a lip stain. At our most generous, we could call this a lacquer. It doesnt stain my lips, though, and it doesnt even really dry.


Valentine is a lovely stawberry-esque pink. Its super wearable and the cute-as-a-button packaging doesnt hurt.

Heres how it looks on my face:



Total Box Value: $29.09

Overall, I feel okay about this box. The Cynthia Rowley lip-ma-bob was by far the standout product, and it did encourage me to try other products from the line. Everything else was really, really boring.

Image source: http://www.geekbinge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ann_Arrested-Development.jpg

Thank goodness for Birchbox points, which can offset some of the less lovable months.

If you are interested in joining Birchbox, of course, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.

Available link for download

Go to link Download